F. Douglas Garron Was Lifelong Entertainer

F. Douglas Garron of Weston and Edgartown died in Boston on July 4th, his favorite holiday. Doug, born on Sept. 19, 1920 in Wellesley, was a lifelong entertainer, playing guitar and singing songs. He began his entertaining career in junior high school with his band The Rhythm Ramblers, and had radio shows on several Boston area stations including WCOP, WMEX, and WCRB. In the early 1950s, Doug entertained the Armed Forces in Korea as part of the USO and performed at the Boston Garden with Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Doug was also the musical director and entertainer on the Major Mudd Show, a 1970s Boston based children's television show, and wrote the show's theme song I'll Be Blasting You. Throughout his life Doug also brought happiness to many through charitable performances at children's hospitals, nursing homes, and other events. In 1995 Doug was inducted into the Massachusetts Country Music Hall of Fame.

Doug's entertainer persona traveled with him everywhere. On Martha's Vineyard, where he summered for the past 50 years, he was fondly known as the Mayor of North Water street, a title dear to his heart. His love of people and zest for life will long be remembered by all who stopped by his front stoop. Doug was the original auctioneer at the Possible Dreams Auction, an announcer at MVAS horse shows and draft horse pulls, and an entertainer at the Jabberwocky picnic and other Island events. Doug was a forty year member of the Kiwanis Club of Wellesley, co-district commissioner of the Jericho Forest Pony Club for thirty-five years, and was an active participant in many other community and local events. Doug was also an avid golfer and a member of the Edgartown Golf Club for 48 years, where he was club champion 10 times, held the 18 hole course record of 67 from 1976 to 1995, and served on its board of governors for many years.

Doug is survived by his wife of 50 years Lorna Peters Garron, his daughter Jennifer, his son Douglas C. and his wife Joan, his grandsons Douglas C. Jr., Christopher, Peter, and Mark, all of Weston, his sisters Evelyn Cain of Villa Park, Calif, Ruthe Doerkson of Denair, Calif. and Constance Gorman of Raleigh, N.C. A memorial service celebrating Doug's life will be held on Friday, August 11 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, Wellesley Hills. All are welcome. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, P.O. Box 767, Framingham, MA 01701.